The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-04-09

wheels on inc sui anu yoiiO"s
road. A carriage spun by aftera certain
well-known pair of Jet black horses.
Miss Perkins sent up shrill little cry
Of triumph.
II never. There they go; he's driving
her out to the fair grounds. " hat do
| YOU think of that, 'Nervie2
But Minerva made no reply.
Mss Perkins turned only to see the
Girl slip quietly from the roam.
Miss Perkins sat there alone for a con
siderable space. The tea kettle had be-
gun to sing cheerily. The snowy table
cloth and the shining glassware ha an
inviting aspect There was plenty OF
Miss Perkins's favorite sauce and sweet
pickle; there was Just the kind OF tea
biscuit and cocoanut cake that she doted
ON. She clio ell her eyes and c'aSred
her hands with a sigh of thankiuiness
for duty performed and blessings about
to lie enjoyed.
Then Ninerva's father arrived.
"How-dy, Miss Perkinsl" he SAID.
"Where's Minnie!'
Minerva reappeared, just little pale
and shadowy around the eyes
sHere | am, father" she said gently;
..tea is ready. | had something to do,
Id most forgotten.
Miss Perkins went away Just after tea.
She did not stop to ''help 'Nervie do
the dishes" as usual 1t was getting
dark, and she had long walk, she sud
I denly remembered.
Minerva went about her work quite
unassisted. Her father was due at some
village meeting, and so presently she
, was left alone in the house.
: A terrible sense of.depression fell upon
her. She wondered if Jason Hawkes.
: were coming. She was quite prepared.
She had everythink ready to return to
. him-his letters and the little pearl ring
y he lad given her. Everything was
!. wrapped securely; the package was toe
- heavy for her pocket-quite too heavy
: She wondered if he would come. AND
- how should she feel after she had giver
h all back to him and said to him that the!
. had better part. She hardly knew. Oh
= life was hard, and bitter. Jason hac
+ loved her-she knew he had loved her =
a until that women had come to the wi
- lace. the designing widow as Mis-
Perkins lad said. Perhaps Miss Perkln
p. was right.
60 Minerva finished her work and wen
,c TO sit on the porch. The air was heav
'U wi h the scent of rose and honeysuckle
: And she felt her heart within her as coll
t as a stone.
"A She Lad sat there less than half a
a hour when the gate opened and TORI
=" familiar anne swiftly up the walk. tic
~ cold heart seemed for a moment to stan
Y still. Then it throbbed painfully.
n. ''Good evening"" she answered vel
ga quietly to his "gOod evening"" But 81
ia. didn't give him her hand.
nd The rest all came about very swift,
er q pride, for thy stern sake how mar
to hearts are wrung!
nv He should never know that she he
ie learned his treachery. He should simp
he believe she did not care for him. "He
mo are YOUR letters and the ring" she sa
swiftly, glad that the darkness vailt
lid her pallor. -.
sly Jason Hawkes. recei'eo 'nenh All o'''
silence.
,u, "As you choose, then, co1uette,"
Dse muttered, and, turning, strobe away.
son Minerva Woodford tossed wakeful
rry upon her bed that night. 1t was the iii
great trouble of her life. First troubl
ian are so bitter.
. Everything required to her-evel
thing that Miss Perkins had told
the concerning Mrs. Darrell: The widow
hen young and pretty. Why should Jas
vn. care for herr She had come from t
kes city and was bright with city ways a
yer. city talk. She seemed to have money
Ugh abundance oh, it was cruel. The VIII
d q thing was cruel!
too Minerva fell asleep only toward
evil dawn. She rose pale and heavy-eyed